Special drugs court will sit in Glasgow

SCOTLAND'S first American-style drugs court will be set up later this year in an attempt to break the cycle of addicts committing crimes to support their drug habits.

A pilot court will be established at the sheriff court in Glasgow by the autumn to take less serious offenders out of the main courts. Iain Gray, the deputy justice minister, said a working group would produce a model for the special court by Easter.

He added: "The problem is well known by now. Drug addicts are committing crime to feed their habits. They are then going to jail, only to come out and re-offend. The present system is tough only on our communities. Drugs courts may provide one way out.

"These are specialist courts which combine experienced judges, treatment schemes and regular reviews, to help petty addicts get off and stay off drugs. But for the most serious of our criminals, prison will remain the only answer."

The cost of crime committed to feed drug habits has been estimated at around £300 million a year. There are more than 230 drug courts in America, and pilot courts have been set up in Wakefield and Pontefract, West Yorkshire.